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A. DAVINTON. RAILROAD SIGNAL.

Patented June 13, 1893.

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A. D. VINTON. RAILRGAD SIGNAL.

Patented June 13, 1893.

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A. D. V-INTON. 'RAILROAD SIGNAL. No. 499,484. Patent-ed June 13, 1893.

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A. D, VNT'QN.. n RAILROAD SIGNAL.v y No' 4991484- 'Patented June 13, 1893.

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, UNITED STATESv l PATENT' OFFICE.

ARTHUR DUDLEY VINTON,` OFv NEW YORK, N. Y.

RAII RolD-sieNAL.`

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters `:P'i'ftli N0. `499,484, dated J' 1.11148 13, 1893.

Application led November 22, 18924. ASerial No.452,814=. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern# Be it known that I, ARTHUR DUDLEY VIN- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, inthe county of New York vand State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in- Railroad-Sign als, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates -to that class of signaling devices, wherein'a torpedo, detonator, or the like is used tonotify trainmen of a closed, blocked, unsafe or dangerous condition of the track or road. A

My inventi'on comprisesY a device which willor may operate in conjunction with the semaphore or other signal, permanently located on the road-bed, for the'purpose of andibly notifying the'trainman of a signal being displayed at danger, or calling `his attention to that fact. Therefore, my invention consists of a devicel comprising a magazine adapted for holding a number of torpedoes of any suitable size orshape, and mechanism wlhereby-aftorpedo can beprojected out upon the track (adjacent to which the magazine is locatedlvthere torbe exploded by the passing train the-exploded torpedo disengaged from the projectingv device, anda new one placed in position for proj ectingit at the proper time; or withdrawing-the non-exploded torpedo from the track should the occasion not require its explosion.

My invention, therefore, comprises a reservoir or magazine for holding a number of torpedoes, devices automatically operated for projecting or withdrawing the non-exploded torpedoes on or Vfrom the track rail, and means whereby the exploded torpedo may be l disengaged from the projecting'and withdrawing devices,` and from-the track rail.

My invention further consists in the details of structure and combinations of parts herein set forth, and further pointed'out in the claims. v

An embodiment ofmy invention'is shown in the accompanying drawings forming part of thisspeciflcation, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view ofa fragment of a; rail showing my device located adjacent?.

thereto, the parts being at rest; Fig. 2,l a like view showing the cover ofthe magazine removed,l the projecting devices having been operated to movea torpedo `and its carrier 'upon the track; Fig. 8, ahorizontal sectional elevation taken on the line 00, Fig. 1, showing the parts-in they same position as in that figure; Fig. 4., a like View, taken on the line u u, Fig. 2, the parts being in the same position as in that ligure, the number vof torpedo -carriers being reducedl to economize in illusstrating; Fig. 5, a plan view, with the top or cover of the casing removed, the parts occupying the position lshownjn Figs. 1 and 3; Fig. 6, a' transverse sectional elevation through the case and magazine, taken approximately on the line o lU, Fig. 1, looking in thev direction of the arrow; Fig. 7, a full Size perspective of one of the carriers land attached torpedoes;` Fig. 8, an end elevation; Fig. 9, a side elevation; and Fig. 10, an elevation and section taken on the line y y Fig. 8; and Fig. 11, a plan of one of the torpedoes, detached from the carrier; Fig. 12, an. elevation and part section,'as Fig. 10, showing a modified form of torpedo secured thereto; Fig. 13, an end elevation of Fig. 12; and Fig. 14, perspective of the modied form of torpedo detached from the carrier; Fig. 15, a plan view ofthe casing with the top thereof removed disclosingA the Ways, rails and guides, the carriers and operating' mechanism being removed. l

Similar figures of reference indicate like parts throughout the' several views.

One use to which my invention can be advantageously employed is the warning of the engineer of the open condition of the draw of a bridge, or ofY the track thereon or leading l thereto.

It has happened that a signal (used to notify thev trainmanf that the draw is open or closed, &c.,) has been set at danger, and that the engineer has failed to see the signal thus displayed, and wrecked the train in the open draw. With my device in use as lan adjunct to the visual signal, the trainmen can beA notitled through the medium of. the exploded torpedo that the draw is open or that theway over the bridge is unsafe, and thus the necessity'of resting the safety of the train upon the chances of the signal being observed by the engineer is obviated, andthe safety of passengers and material no longer dependent solely uponithe vision of eyesight of the engineer. f My 'device also contains means, hereinafter/set. forth, for disengaging the unex- IOO ploded torpedo from the track rail, after the signal has been returned from danger to safety, and before the train has passed. For instance, the signal has been set` at danger which by reason of the connecting devices, projects a torpedo upon the track, butbefore the train passes, the way being clear, the signal is again set at safety, which disengages the torpedo and moves it out of the way. lf it were necessary to explode the torpedo, in order to enable the device to present a new one every time the signal was set at danger, the trainmen would become so accustomed to hearing the explosion, when the road was clear, that they would be very apt not to heed it. Therefore the device should be automatic or synchronous with the visual signal in all of its operations, and convey the same information.

In the drawings 1 is a rectangular casing, preferably castin one piece, which is provided with a housing 2, defined by the top 3 which may be removable and the bed 4, the top overlapping the bed, as in Fig. 4. The rear and front ends of the casing are open, the rear end of the top 3 being provided with a slot 5. The bed 4 is provided with a rearwardly extending ledge 6, which is provided with a central slot 7. The housing rests upon the four depending sides 8, cast integral therewith, and these in turn upon a plank or iron plate 9, suitably secured to the road bed adjacent the rail. This plank may also be made part of the casing, and in fact the particular shape and construction of the casing for the operating mechanism is not essential, and the ends of the same need not be entirely open, but only enough for co-operation of the devices hereinafter set forth. Either cast integral therewith,or made separate therefrom in any suitable or preferred way, is a magazine 10 rectangular in shape, and which is provided with a ilare 11 at the top to which is hinged a cover 12, having a hasp 13, which can be secured to the staple 14 on the are by the padlock 15, by which cover the magazine is closedboth from interference and the action of the elements.

The top 3 of the casing has an aperture through which the magazine 10 extends, the transverse sides of which lie about flush with the under side of the top 3 of the casing, the longitudinally extending sides resting on the bed 4, as shown in Fig. 6. To prevent the magazine from becoming displaced, and to enable it to be readily secured to the casing, I affix angle pieces 16 to the walls thereof, and secure them to the top of the casing by screws as shown.

. Two guide strips 17 are set in grooves in the base 4, and where they approach the magazine they are curved outward, within which curved portion the lower part of the magazine lies, their outer ends extending from the casing close to the track rail 18. Adjacent to the guide strips 17 are two anti-friction guide rails 19 (see Fig. 6) which extend outwardly as far as the ends of the guide strips adjacent the rail 18, and inwardly past the magazine 10. Midway between the guide rails and strips lies a groove 20, cut into the bed 4, and which extends across the bed past the magazine, the groove being spanned at the rear of the magazine by a bearing 21, Figs. 3, 4, 15.

Upon the plank 9, at the rear of the casing is a journal bearing 22, to which is pivotally secured the operating lever 23 by means of the bolt or pin 24. This lever extends up through the slot 7 in the ledge 6, and has at dierent points from its fulcrum two links 25, 26, of different lengths, the longer, 25, being secured to the lever at the greater distance from the fulcrum by the pin and nut 27, the link 26 (the shorter) being secured to the lever nearer its fulcrum by the pin and nut 28. To the end of the link 26 (which enters the casing through the slot 5) is secured the retracting rod 29, which has at its extreme outer end an enlargement or lip 30. This rod lies under the bearing 21 and in the groove 20, which guide its movements, and at its point of union with the link 26 it is enlarged for the purpose of accommodating the pin 31 which unites them.

The bearing 21 straddling the groove 20 at the rear of the magazine, besides forming a guide for the rod 29, keeps it down in place.

The lower end of the link 25 (which enters the casing through the slot 5) is pivotally secured to a sliding push block 32 (Fig. 5) provided with the bosses 33, through which a pin or bolt 34 passes to unite the link and block together. The forward end of the block is provided with two bars 35 having squared ends, and above these bars lie bars 36 (which may be made integral with the bars 35) provided with pointed ends or fingers 37 which protrude over the ends of the bars 35. Guide strips 38 (added to or forming part of the bed 4) form a guide way for the push block 32.

The torpedo carrier 39 (Fig. 7) consists of a block of wood or other suitable material 40, having a slot 41 extending centrally for a portion of its length, and at the sides of the slot rise distant blocks 42, having inclined faces 43 at the ends. The torpedo 44 (of the capsule, or any other desired form) is secured to the unslotted end of the carrier in any suitable way, and is provided with a finger strip 45, which extends outwardly and downwardly into and through the slot 41, the end having afinger 46, which lies below the bottom of the carrier. This strip 45 is made preferably of some thin and easily distorted or broken material, such as tin.

By reference to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the magazine can contain a suitable number of the carriers, each having its attached torpedo; that each superposed torpedo lies or rests on the distance blocks (the torpedo being lower or flush therewith) and that the iinger strip of a superposed torpedo extends down between the distance blocks of the one below. In this position the "lowest carrier IIO Igo

would befree to be moved from under those superposed without engagement therewith.

Assuming that the case is empty, and that the push block 32Y lies in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, if a carrier is placed in the magazine (the magazine being of a size sufficient to keep it approximately horizontal) it will fall down and rest upon the bed and guide rails 19 and within the bight or swell of the guide strips 17, as 'shown in Fig. 5. If the operating lever 23 is then vibrated in the direction of the track rail, the sliding pushv block 32 would be moved in that direction bringing the ends of the push bars 35 against' the end of the carrier, which would advance it toward the -rail far enough to clear the depending side of the magazine, the movement of the lever, in this direction, being limited by a stop 47 lying across the slot 7 in the ledge 6. See Fig. 4. 1f, before the movement of the lever 23 just before described, or when the push block lies directly below the magazine, another or more carriers are inserted, it, or the lowest of the column, will rest upon the finger bars 36, and the torpedo finger strip 45 will lie within the space between them. While in this position the push block can be freely moved without engagingthe superposed carrier. The carrier now having been moved toward the track rail and out of alignment with the chute of the magazine, the lever 23 is vibrated in the reverse direction, drawing the push block with it, until the ends vof the finger bars 36 clear the chute of the magazine, the levers movement in this direction being limited by the stop 48, or by the end of the slot 7, as preferred. The superposed carrier can then fail on the bedv and guide rails, as did the one preceding it (see Fig. 3). By repeating this operation a line of torpedoes will be created, which extends .between the depending side of the magazine to the rail, the guide rails 19 being iiush with the top of the rail permitting the outermost carrier to move its torpedo directly upon it. See Fig. 4. It Awill be observed that the carrier 40, fitting snugly within the guide strips 17, will be lsecurely held by them in position so that. the torpedo will lnot be pushed olf the rail by the wheel of the advancing train. j

Should the track brushes on the locomotive strike the carrier, it will be held inthe guide strips 17 and the strain of moving or brushing away the carrier or tearing it out of the strips will explode the torpedo Without compression on the rail.

By referring to Figs. 7, S, 9, 10 it will be seen that the distance blocks rise up from the surface of the carriers 40, and that at each side of the blocks the surface of' the carrier is clear, The purpose of thisis to create a space between the top of one carrier and the bottom of a superposed carrier into` which the points of the finger bars 36 can enter during the movement of the push block toward the rail. This enables the finger bars to begin to form a rest or support for ,the superposed carrier before the push bars have commenced to move the lower carrier (which rests upon the guide rails) out from alignment with the magazine, and preventsthe carrier from gettingout of the horizontal. w, In all of the movements of theV .zineis utilized for the purpose of positively directing the entry of the carriers into the way formed by the guide strips, so that if one of the carriers should become turned in its fall to the guide rails the curve of the guide strips will direct its entry into the Way formed thereby. Y Y i So far I have described the operation of projecting one of the carriers upon the track. I

shall now describe the withdrawal of the carrier from the track, as well as the disengagement of the torpedo from the operating mechanism resulting from the explosion thereof;

also the means for operating the device in.

conjunction with the visual signal.

It will be apparent from Figs. 3, 4, that the i fingers of the carrier ,finger strips lie in the groove 2O in the same plane as the lip 30 of the rod 29, and that when a sufficient number,

of carriers lie in the wayformed by the strips 17, (to enable the first on theline to be projected out upon the track rail) that the finger 46 will have engaged with the lip 30 of the retracting rod. Further, the objectof'giving the push block a greater amount or amplitudeofy movement than the retracting rod (which isy accomplished by connecting them at differing points from the fulcrum of the operating lever) is to enable thepush block to move a carrier out from the magazine, return it, and repeat this with a second, without moving the projected carriers from their projected position, until the line of carriers is complete, as in Fig. 4, when the finger 46 will almost-be engagedwith the lip 30 of the retractingrod, but far enough apart to permit of their disengagement. The rod can nowbe usedjto retract the carrier from the rail of the railroad track, should. it not have been exploded by the passing train. During the movementsof the IZO lever 23 back and forth either the yfinger-bars 36form a resting place for the carrier ein the magazine first in the line of descent, or thedistance blocks 42 do 5 and as they enter under the superposed carrier before the fingerbars have entirelyleft themagazine, both the finger bars and `distance blocks-.perform thesarne funcl tion at one period of the movement of the lever. The freeingof the carrier from the re-V tracting rod -isaccomplished by the distort-ion or removal of its carrier strip due to the en# plosion of the torpedo,.which will either dev-- stroy .the entirecarrier or free the strip it, so that the rearward movement of the4 retracing rod will not be interfered with, and the carrier will remain on the rail of the railroad track even if not totally destroyed, and will not be again drawn into the casing. The operation of placing a fresh carrier in line is again accomplished by the necessary movements of the operating lever, and when the line is complete, the movement thereof toward the track rail for the purpose of placing a fresh torpedo thereon will dislodge and remove the carrier whose torpedo was last exploded.

The connection of the operating lever 23 with a visual signal, such as a semaphore or the like, can be made through the instrumentality of a wire, rope, or chain 49 which may pass around a sheave 50, journaled on a spindle 51 suitably supported, one end of the chain being secured to the signal operating means, the other to the lever 23. As it is desirable that the casing should lie transverse of the track, and that the operating lever should move in the same plane, the connecting chain is applied as shown, which causes the lever to move at right angles to the line of draft of the chain. Thus when the visual signal is moved to danger, the operating lever will be synchronously vibrated placing a torpedo on the track; and when the danger signal is removed the stress on the connecting chain is also removed, leaving the operating lever to be vibrated in the opposite direction. This can be accomplished by a second chain passing around a sheave, reversed in position, so as to synchronously vibrate the lever away from the track or to move the carriers toward the magazine when the visual signal is returned to safety; or, as I prefer, this last movement may be accomplished by a spring 52 or its equivalent secured at one end to the lever 23 and at the other to the ledge 6, by a pin hook 53, which spring,when the stress on the chain 49 is removed,vibrates the lever 23 in the direction opposite from that in which the chain has moved it. My invention, however, is not limited in its use to the co-operation with a visual signal, as other means can be employed to operate it, and it may be used in ways other than that heretofore set forth.

The structure of the torpedo can be modified, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 12, 13, 14, in which the carrier strip 45 is secured to the bottom of the torpedo, and for the purpose of detachably securing the torpedo to the carrier a iexible strip or band 54 may also be secured to the under side of the torpedo, and by bending the ends over the sides or edges of the carrier (as in Fig. 13) it can be secured thereon and removed with ease, the magazine and way through the casing being made of a size sufficient to accommodate them. The

fiexible strip 54 and carrier strip 45 can be made in one piece as shown in Fig. 14.

I have said that both ends of the casing are open, but by this I mean that they have apertures sufficient for the guide rails and strips to project out, and for the operating means to enter; but it is apparent that the entire device can be incased so as to eiectually protect it from disturbing iniiuences of any nature. Neither do I limit myself to the use of the upright operating lever, as the movable parts can be given their requisite movement by other means, and electrical apparatus can be utilized for the same purpose.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In a railroad signal, the combination, with a magazine adapted tocontain detonating devices, of away passing through said magazine to the rail of a track, a push block oscillating in said way, and means for operating the same, and a retractor, the throw of the push block being equal to the dimension of the magazine in the direction of the way, substantially as described.

2. In a railroad signal, the combination, with a magazine adapted to contain detonating devices, of a way passing from said magazine to the rail of a track, a push block oscillating in said way, and an oscillating retractor, the throw of the push block being equal to the dimension of said magazine in the direction of said way, and the throw of the retractor being shorter than that of the push block, substantially as described.` y

3. In a railroad signal,the combination with a magazine adapted to contain detonating devices, of a way leading past and from said magazine to the rail of a track and a push block in said way, said way being adapted to be Iilled with a series of the detonators, and a retractor continuously engaging the outermost device to retract the series only when said way is so filled, substantially as described.

4. In a railroad signal, the combination of a magazine adapted to contain a plurality of detonating devices, a way leading from the magazine to the rail of a track, a retractor, and an oscillating push block, the distance to be traversed by each device from the magazine to the track being a multiple of the throw of the push block, whereby said way may be lled with said devices by operating said block the nu mber of times represented by said multiple, substantially as described.

5. In a railroad signal, a magazine adapted to contain a plurality of detonating devices, a wayleading from said magazine to the track of a rail, means for propelling the devices along the way, and a retractor for said devices, oscillating in said way the point of engagement of the retractorwith a device oscillating wholly outside said magazine or the extended sides thereof, substantially as described.

6. The combination with an operating le ver, of devices having varying amplitudes of movement connected to said lever, a magazine, a plurality of independent detonators, and means for engaging said devices with the detonators, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a casing having a IOO IIO

ing opening on said way, a torpedo carrier 4 adapted to move in the magazine, an operating lever, a push block for moving the carrier in the way from alignment with the magazine, a separately moving retracting bar-for retracting the carrier, means for engaging the carrier with said bar, both the push block and bar being operated by the operating lever, substantially as described.

S. The combination of the following elements for manipulating a torpedo for the purpose herein set forth: 'a magazine, a torpedo carrier, a way leading from the magazine, a

push block, a retracting bar, a pivoted operating lever, links connecting the said lever and push block and bar, and means for operating the said lever, substantially as described.

9. The combination with the magazine and carrier, of the fulcrumed operating lever, a two part means for manipulating the carrier, devices connecting said lever with thel parts of said means said devices having varying amplitudes of movement, a prime mover for the lever, and stops limiting its movement, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a magazine and carrier of a fulcrumed operating lever, two part means for manipulating the carrier the parts of said means being given varying amplitudes of movement through said lever, a prime mover, connectionsfrom the lever to said prime mover, a'spring for moving the lever in one direction, and stops for limiting its movement, substantially as described..

11. In a railroad signal, the combination with a track rail and a magazine adapted to contain a plurality of detonating devices, of

guide strips curving outwardly below the` magazine and extending therefrom parallel to each other to the track rail, substantially as described.

12. In a railroad signal, the combination with track rails and a magazine adapted to contain a plurality of detonating devices, of a way for said devices leading from the magazine" to the track, said way being provided with a groove, forming a second way distinct and apart from the first, and a retracting rod sliding in the latter, substantially as described.

13. In a railroadsignal, the combination with track rails and a magazine adapted to contain a plurality of detonating devices, of separate ways leading from the magazine to the track, propelling and retracting devices moving each in one of said ways, and a detonating device moving in one of the ways, and having an extension into the other Way, substantially as described.

14. In a railroad signal, the combination of an operating lever, upper and lower slideways, pieces sliding therein, and links connecting said pieces to different points of said lever, whereby unequal movement is imparted `to said pieces from the same motion of the with track rails and a magazine adapted to 8o contain a plurality of detonating devices, of a centrally grooved way leading therefrom to the track rails, each of said devices having a finger'strip moving in said central groove,v

, said finger strip being so secured upon said device as to be shielded from contact with the next device of the series, substantially as described.

18. In a railroad signal, the combination of a centrally grooved Way, a series of detonating devices sliding therein, a hooked retractor sliding inthe central groove and adapted to engage the outermost device of the series to retract the whole series, substantially as described.

19. In a railroad signal, the combination of a way leading to the rail of a track, a series of detonating devices thereon, means for propelling the same, a finger strip secured to each device in such a manner as to be detached by "explosion, and a retractor engaging the finger strip of the outermost device and passing by the other devices,`and means for withdrawing the retractor, substantially as described.

20. In a railroad signal, the torpedo carrier having a rear central slot and rising distance blocks thereon at each side of the slot, substant-ially as described.

21. In a railroad signal,the combination of a carrier having a rear central slot, a torpedo upon the front portion of the carrier, and a finger strip secured to the torpedo and extending within the slot, substantially as described.

22. In a railroad signal, the combination of a slideway, a detonating device comprising a torpedo, a carrier therefor having a front porvtion engaging the slideway, and a tinger strip for retracting the device, extending rearwardly and downwardly below the lower surface of the carrier substantially as described. 23. In a railroad signal, a detonating device comprising a torpedo, a carrier therefor, and

a hooked strip extending below the carrier, in

combination with a retractor sliding below the carrier, substantially as described.

24.. In a railroad signal, the combination of a detonating device, a push block and retractor which move simultaneously, said ush block having a greater amplitude of movement than the retractor, substantially asdescribed. f

25. In a railroad signal, a detonating device IOO comprising,1r a torpedo, a carrier therefor, andv means for securing the torpedo to the carrier consisting of a strip secured to the torpedo and having its ends bent around said carrier,

5 and having also a rearwardly extending hook for reti-acting the carrier, substantially as de` scribed.

26. In a railroad signal, the combination with a track rail, of a Way leading thereto, to and detonating devices moving in said Way, 

